T.E.D.D.Y. Study

When Cameron was born they did a test at the hospital to look at his genetic risk for Type 1 Diabetes aka Juvenile Diabetes. To be honest I completely forgot that we even did it! But when he was about 2 months old we got a phone call with the results and he has a 3% risk of developing in his lifetime. This may not sound like a lot and it isnt, it leaves a 97% chance he wont, but its higher than normal. The average population has a .3% risk so he is significantly higher. Being at this risk it makes him eligible to be a part of the TEDDY Study (The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young). In this study they look at antibodies in his blood to determine if his risk increases and if his body is starting to attack the beta cells and destroy them which is a sign of the beginning stages of Type 1. We decided to have him take part in the study. It helps them and helps us to watch him closely and would alert us early on if he started showing signs. If we didnt participate and he did develop Type 1 we most likely wouldnt know anything was going on until he got really sick. Today we had his first appointment and I got to go over all the information about him. Every month I have to send in a stool sample where they look at viruses he has passed in the last month. Also 4 times a year we go in for an appointment where they draw blood to look at the antibodies. It was sad to watch him get poked, but it was kinda funny because they couldnt find his vains through all his chub-wub! She had to push and poke around on his arm, and then his other arm, then both his feet and still couldnt find one. Finally she tried the first arm again and after a while she found one. But once she found one she laughed at how deep his veins are, they are way down there under all his insulation. Also, they look at stresses in the home and in the childs life, stresses while I was pregnant, my diet while I was pregnant, Camerons diet, water in the home, and lots of other things that they are studying to see if they contribute to Type 1. The average age for developing it is between the ages of 9-12 and the chances of having it show under the age of 2 is low and before the age of 1 is extremely low. It is a 15 year study but he can leave at the age of 4 is we choose. It was very interesting to hear all the information and I am glad we have this opportunity to watch his health so closely and be able to help out a study at the same time.